Mitered Corners
Mitered Corners are when two edges meet at a 45 degree angle, creating a 90 degree corner. As quilters we miter the corners of our binding and sometimes our borders. Mitered borders are basically a y-seam technique.Some fabrics lend themselves to mitering based on their design.Stripes make excellent mitered borders as you can get a continuous stripe around the edge of your quilt. If you make and apply French double fold binding, you stitch the corners onto the quilt with a folded mitered corner. There is also a lesser known method for stitching binding on each side individually and then cutting and folding the corners to create 'Stitched Mitered Corners'. All of these methods create a nice crisp 45 degree seam.
Benefits of a Mitered Corner
A Mitered Corner on a quilt border is a beautiful technique for striped fabric, and other fabrics that would appear chopped at the corners if straight borders were applied.
Mitered corners on binding make the corners of your quilt nice and square, no matter which way you stitch them.
Mitering the corner of the binding also minimizes the fabric in the corner to reduce bulk and help the corner to lay flat.
Tools and Supplies for a Mitered Corners
Basic Sewing supplies
Ruler with 45 degree angle line or Mitered Corner tool
What I Wish I Knew When I Started making a Mitered Corner
Like any technique, a MITERED CORNER is easy once you get some practice in.
When mitering a french fold binding, feel the corner and see which way the corner is folded toward on the back. If folded to the left, fold the top to keep the extra fabric on the right. When you feel the corner between your thumb and forefinger, the sides will feel equal.
